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TO MASTERS.

child-like confidence to God as your heavenly Father, and perhaps this is the very reason why he is so dealing with you, that he may humble you, and do you good." "Maybe," she said, in a tone that revealed the rising of her unsubdued spirit, while it was evident from her expression that she was struggling to suppress it; seeing this, I felt it was best not to go further, and having prayed with her, I departed, promising soon to return. The cottage being close to the road which I had continually to pass, I saw her frequently, and endeavoured always to press home on her such lessons as I saw she needed; but I marked little change, except that I often found her engaged with her Bible, and always willing to listen to my instruction. I was very glad, however, to hear the testimony of her relation, that she was more contented and easier in her temper.

One morning I had seen her looking feverish and uneasy, and she thought "one of her bad turns," as she called them, "was coming on." Late in the evening, the man in whose house she was came to tell me that she had become alarmingly ill, and was very desirous of seeing me. I went immediately out with him, and by the way made some inquiry concerning her; she seemed in great distress, he said; but he thought her mind was worse than her body, for she supposed herself dying, and did nothing but cry about her sins and the fear of hell; "and indeed," he added, "I am at a loss to think what it can be that troubles her. Nae doubt, she had an ill temper, and was a wee revengeful in her way, but for anything else, I never saw much ill about her."

As he entered the house, I heard her crying out most piteously, "Oh me! what will become of me?-what will become of me?" The moment she saw me, she said, "Oh pray for me-I am dying-I am dying-I am a poor sinful creature-I cannot stand before my God. Oh me! oh me!" She went on for some time in the same strain. I saw she was not in a condition to listen calmly to anything I might address to her, and remained silent until she had somewhat exhausted herself and become quiet. I then said, "I can do nothing for you, Jean, but commend you to the mercy of God, and therefore we shall pray."

She continued pretty calm while I was so engaged; and when I had concluded and uttered in herhearing some passages of Scripture fitted to convey comfort to her troubled mind, I left her. Next day I returned; the bodily suffering still continued, but the mental excitement seemed to have passed away, and she scarcely spoke at all.

This attack gradually removed as many others had done, and left her in a more than usually feeble state. There was no prospect whatever of her being removed, and I felt it needful to make some arrangements to assist

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the poor woman, who treated her with great tenderness, to bear the burden of her maintenance. She seemed herself exceedingly relieved by hearing of this, and I felt thankful to have it in my power to remove out of her way one continual temptation to worldly anxiety.

It was now evident that she regarded herself as a dying person, and also that her mind was awakened to a true sense of her condition in the sight of God. But she seldom expressed much of what she felt; sometimes, when asked if there was any passage of Scripture on which her mind could rest, she would mention a text that had given her some comfort; but she always added that it was but for a time, and she feared she had no right to it. I continued for months to see her frequently, and found her growing at least in knowledge of God's Word, and in a thankful sense of his goodness to him in temporal things; but there never seemed any clear recognition of his forgiving mercy in Christ. Her bodily strength was again considerably increased, and being much occupied otherwise, I now saw her but seldom-nor had I heard of her being at all worse; when going, to church one day I was amazed to hear the prayers of the congregation requested for her as seemingly near death. As soon as the service was over, I proceeded to her lodging; the clergyman had also done the same, and I stood aside that he might speak with her. "O sir," she said as soon as he entered, "your prayers have indeed been heard for me this day. I am wonderfully relieved in body, and what is far better, I have found rest to my soul. Long, long I resisted the grace of God, and would not take the free salvation he offered, but now he' has made me willing in the day of his power; he has laid me low at the foot of the cross, and made willing first to lie there."

The clergyman having spoken and prayed with her, she seemed exhausted, and I did not think it wise to remain. As we left the cottage, "What a mournful deliverance at the very gates of death," he remarked. "It is indeed," I replied; "but do you think she is dying?" "It is quite evident," he said, "that she is sinking very fast."

The next day I returned. She seemed asleep, and I was unwilling to disturb her. "O she had a pleasant night," said her cousin; "she is so content with anything now, and not the least afraid to die."

When I returned the day following, she could only answer by a monosyllable any question I asked; but she looked calm and happy. I saw her only once more, and then she lay in a peaceful sleep from which she never awoke.

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returning back; she struggled hard, while the tears rolled down her cheeks at the sight of her helpless babes. At length she turned from them. The children continued to cry, "Good bye, mother." The sounds sent a thrill of anguish to her heart; but she pressed on to the house of those who were to bury her. In two days she died.

Oh, that mothers were as careful to save their children from the worse contagion of sin!

CONVERTED INDIAN CHIEFS.

COLONEL M'KENNEY, in his work on the Indians, gives the following illustrations of the power of divine grace over the hearts of savages, apparently of the most hopeless class. The first is the case of the celebrated chief Skenandoah:

how few consider seriously of this! Are not the souls of servants slighted, as if they were little better than the souls of brutes? Sirs, is that which Christ thought worth his blood, not worth your care? The neglect of most masters in this thing is horrible. How seldom do they speak a word of God to their servants! How great a rarity is it for them to pray with them, and read the Scriptures before them, and to call upon them to mind what they read! Who endeavours to convince their servants of the corruption of their nature, and that they are born slaves of sin and Satan? Who commends Christ as the best Master, and commands his servants to obey him? Where is the master to be found that is frequently and importunately endeavouring to convince all under his charge of the necessity of faith in Christ, repentance, and a holy life? How little are masters concerned for God's honour and service! Nay, are there not some that are so far from minding the souls of their servants, that if once they perceive a poor servant begins to set his face toward heaven, how are they set against him! What scoffs and jeers shall he then have, and scarce live a quiet life after it! And there are others that put their servants upon sin, that keep them up to work so unreasonably late on Saturday nights, that they lose half the Lord's- chief Skenandoah? He, whose pathway for day with sleeping? (2 Kings xxi. 11; Isa. xxxvii. 24.) sixty years had been marked with blood; whose How many that put their servants upon work, 'and war-whoop had resounded through many a terserving of goods, upon the Lord's-day! How many rified settlement, and until the regions of the do we see keeping their stalls open to sell fruit! O Mohawk rang with it; and who was in all rewhere are our Nehemiahs? Who reproves his serspects, the cruel, the indomitable savage. One vants for neglecting God's service more than for neglecting of his own? Who observes what company would suppose that habits, stiffened by so long they keep-how the Sabbath is spent? Who reproves a period of indulgence, could not be easily, if at them for lying and cheating for their profit? Are all, softened and remoulded; that the spirit of there not too many that put them upon telling lies the warrior, having been so long indulged in to cover their own neglect? Do such masters as the practices so congenial to the feelings of the these deserve the name of Christians? Do they look like God's servants. Janeway. savage, could not be subdued, and made to conform to all that is gentle, and peaceful, and pious. But all this was effected in the person of this chief. He was awakened under the

A DYING MOTHER'S LOVE.

Who has not heard of the famous Oneida

THE plague broke out in a little Italian village. In preaching of the Rev. Mr. Kirkland; and be

came a convert to the faith of the Christian. The tomahawk, the war-club, and the scalpingknife fell from his grasp; the desolations which he had produced he mourned over; he saw, in his mythology, nothing but chimeras; he was penitent, and was forgiven. Nor did he ever abandon the faith he had adopted, but continued a peaceful, faithful, devoted Christian, until his death, which occurred when he was over a

one house the children were taken first; the parents
watched over them, but only caught the disease they
could not cure. The whole family died. On the
opposite side of the way lived the family of a poor
labourer, who was absent during the whole week;
only coming on Saturday nights to bring his scanty
earnings. His wife felt herself attacked by the
fever in the night; in the morning she was much
worse, and before night the plague spot showed it-hundred years old.
self. She thought of the terrible fate of her neigh-
bours. She knew she must die; but as she looked
upon her dear little boys, she resolved not to com-
municate death to them. She therefore locked the
children into the room, and snatched her bed-clothes,
lest they should keep the contagion behind her, and
left the house. She even denied herself the sad
pleasure of a last embrace.

Think of the heroism that enabled her to conquer her feelings, and leave home, and all she loved, to die! Her eldest child saw her from the window. "Good bye, mother," said he, with his tenderest tone, for he wondered why his mother left him so strangely. "Good bye, mother," repeated the youngest child, stretching his little hand out of the window. The mother pauses; her heart was drawn towards her children, and she was on the point of

A while previous to his death, a friend calling to see him, and inquiring after his health, received this answer (which most of you, doubtless, have heard)-"I am an aged hemlock The winds of an hundred winters have whistled through my branches. I am dead at the top (referring to his blindness). Why I yet live, the great, good Spirit only knows. When I am dead, bury me by the side of my minister and friend (meaning Mr. Kirkland)—that I may go up with him at the great resurrection!" He was accordingly so buried, and I have seen his tomb.

Another case was that of Kusick, chief of the Tuscaroras. He was also an Indian, and had ⠀| served under Lafayette, in the army of the Revolution. It was usual for him, in company of a

HE MISTOOK THE LIGHT!

few of his leading men, to visit, once in every two or three years, the State of North Carolina, whence his tribe originally came, to see after some claims they had on the State. In passing through Washington, the old chief would call at my office, for the purpose of submitting his papers, and of counselling with me. On one of these occasions, he made a call before breakfast, at my residence, accompanied by his companions. A neighbour had stepped in to see me, on his way to his office, and our conversation turned on Lady Morgan's France, which had been just then published, and was lying on my table. We spoke of Lafayette. The moment his name was mentioned, Kusick turned quick upon me his fine black eyes, and asked with great earnestness,

"Is he yet alive? The same Lafayette that was in the Revolutionary war?"

"Yes, Kusick," I answered, "he is alive; and he is the same Lafayette who was in that war. That book speaks of him as being not only alive, but looking well and hearty."

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He said, with deep emphasis, "I am glad to hear it."

"Then you know Lafayette, Kusick?" “O, yes," he answered, "I knew him well; and many a time in the battle I threw myself between him and the bullets; for I loved him."

"Were you in commission?"

"O, yes," he replied, "I was a lieutenant. General Washington gave me a commission." My friend and myself agreed to examine the records, and see if the old chief was not entitled to a pension. We (or rather he) did so. All was found to be as Kusick had reported it, when he was put on the pension list.

Some years after, in 1827, when passing through the Tuscarora reserve, on my way to the wilderness, I stopped opposite his log cabin, and walked up to see the old chief. I found him engaged drying fish. After the usual greeting, I asked if he continued to receive his pension.

"No," said the old chief, "no; Congress passed a law making it necessary for me to swear I cannot live without it. Now, hear is my little log cabin, and it's my own; here's my patch, where I can raise corn, and beans, and bumpkins; and there's Lake Oneida, where I can catch fish. With these I can make out to live without the pension; and to say I could not, would be to lie to the great Spirit!

Here was principle and piety; and a lesson for many whose advantages had far exceeded those of this poor Indian. In connection with this, I will add another anecdote. He breakfasted with me on the morning to which I have referred; and knowing him to be a teacher of the Christian religion among his people, and an interpreter for those who occasionally preached to them, I requested him to ask a blessing. He did so, and in a manner so impressive, as to

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make me feel that he was deeply imbued with the proper spirit. He employed in the ceremony | his native Tuscarora. I asked him why, as he spoke very good English, he had asked the blessing in his native tongue? He said, "When I speak English, I am often at a loss for a word. When, therefore, I speak to the great Spirit, I do not like to be perplexed, or have my mind distracted to look after a word. When I use my own language, it is like my breath; I am composed." Kusick died an honest man and a Christian; and has doubtless entered into his rest.

HE MISTOOK THE LIGHT!

AND what was the consequence? Why, the largest steam-ship in the world, with a rich cargo, and a wrecked, in a dark and stormy night, on the most company of three hundred souls on board, was dangerous part of the coast of Ireland! The noble ship, which cost upwards of £200,000, left her port that very afternoon in fine trim, and with every prospect of a safe and speedy voyage, and at nine o'clock she was thumping upon the rocks-the sea breaking over her with terrific violence, and threatening to send people, ship, and cargo, to instant de

struction!

But how could they mistake the light? Were the captain and his officers on the look-out? Yes. Was the chart (or map of the coast) closely examined? Yes. Was the compass all right? Yes. And were the common precautions taken to keep the ship on her proper course? Yes; all this was done.

How then could she have met such a sad disaster?

Why, because a light appeared which was not noted on the chart, and the captain was deceived by it! He mistook it for another light that was on the chart, and so, when he supposed he was running out to sea, he was really running in upon the breakers! How great a mistake, and how terrible the consequences!

Every reader of these lines is sailing on a more hazardous voyage than the Great Britain attempted, and has the command of a nobler vessel and a richer freight than hers; yes, richer than all the treasures of the world! Thousands of plans are laid to mislead and divert him from his course. False lights

are purposely held out to betray him, and tides and currents, of almost resistless power, set against him from every point of the compass. Will he steer clear of them all? Shall we see him push out into the broad sea, with a bright sky, a fair wind, and sails all set for the desired haven? Will he accomplish the voyage, and his fears and perils be all exchanged for the tranquillity and joy of a happy home?

It will depend on two things.-1. Whether he has the true chart, and takes good heed to it. It is known as the Holy Scriptures, and it lays down. the position of every light on the voyage; and he may be sure that any light that is not found on that chart is to be shunned. 2. Whether he commits himself and the whole direction of the voyage to Him whose footsteps are on the sea, and who rides upon the wings of the wind. No one ever put his trust in him and was confounded.

Farewell, then, young voyager! Be sober-be and daily ask Him, to whose direction you have vigilant keep your chart always spread before you, committed the voyage, what course he would have you, this day, to steer.-Y. P. Gazette.

AIM HIGH.

Look into your Bible, and see how Christians ought to live. See how the Bible says those who are Christians must live; and then if you find your Christian friends living in a different way, instead of having cause for feeling that you may do so too, you have only cause to fear that they are deceiving themselves with the belief that they are Christians, when they are not. Remember that the farther your Christian friends depart from the standard of Christian character laid down in the Bible, the less reason have you to hope that they are Christians. And do not hesitate on this subject, because you find many professed Christians, who are indifferent, lax in their practice and example. Remember that Christ has said, "Many shall say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord;" thus claiming to be his disciples, to whom he will say, "I never knew you."-Dr. Bedell.

SARDIS.

As the gloom of evening came on," says Dr. Durbin, "and rendered still more impressive the solitude and desolation which reigned around me, I read the Epistle which Jesus sent by his servant John to the

'Church at Sardis,' and felt the force of the words: Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.' This is remarkably true both of the city and of the Church. It was sad to think, that of the few names even in Sardis, which had not defiled their garments,' not even one was left. Nowhere is the impression of total abandonment, of profound and unbroken solitude-the stillness of death- -80 deeply made upon the mind of the wanderer through the

ruins of the ancient cities in Asia Minor, as at Sardis. An impression prevails among the Turks that the place is unwholesome: Every man,' say they, 'who builds a house in Sardis soon dies; ' and, accordingly, they avoid it. A few wandering Turkomans dwell about the ruins, in little black tents, and these are all the human inhabitants of the once splendid metropolis of Lycia."

APPARENT HAPPINESS.

SINGLE out any one of those thou account est most happy in their outward enjoyments, and be sure thou art as thoroughly acquainted with all the circumstances of his condition as thou art with thine own; and then sit down and seriously consider, Is this the person whose happiness thou admirest? View him inside and outside; and tell me, wouldst thou have his condition, and all the circumstances of it? It is true, he is great in the world; but wouldst thou have all his cares and fears? his restless nights and troublesome days? Wouldst thou have just his qualifications of mind? that half-wittedness that makes him ridiculous? his peevish humours, which make him a burden to himself and others? Wouldest thou have just his temper of body to be always sickly, or conceited to be so? He cannot eat this, nor digest that, nor relish anything, as do meaner persons. Those relations that should be the greatest comfort of his life, hanker after his death; his children, upon one account or other, almost break his heart; his servants are vexatious; his business distracting, or his idleness wearisome. Whereas, perhaps, his next neighbour, that hath scarce bread to eat, hath a quieter frame of mind, a better temper of

body, a better stomach, better health, more comfort in relations, and longer life to enjoy all these, than he whom thou countest the world's darling. Think of this before thou concludest for an earthly happiness. -Annesley.

THE AGED SINNER.

If ever my compassionate feelings are stirred within me, it is when attempting to converse with an aged person who has lived a life of impenitency. I once called upon a very advanced couple, who were evidently very near the grave. The man was shaking with the palsy, and the woman was bowed almost to the floor. I endeavoured to direct their thoughts upward, and they sought to drag mine downwards. I spoke of heavenly things, and they inquired about the earthly. Having exhausted my ingenuity in efforts to interest them in the one thing needful, I took sojourn was ended. my departure, and soon after heard that their earthly

Many a time had I conversed with an old revolu

tionary soldier respecting his soul; but his uniform reply was, he did not know why he should be cast away, and yet he was then in the habit of profaning the name of God. In the same insensible state he left the world.

Calling recently upon a woman of nearly ninety years, I inquired respecting her views of the future state, into which she must soon enter; her emphatic reply was, "O, I can't fix my thoughts on nothing! I wish I was as good as A-was," referring to a grand-daughter, who had just died a peaceful death in the morning of life.-New England Puritan.

EGGS AND WAFERS.

THE Universe, a Roman Catholic newspaper in Paris, publishes the following from their correspondent in'

Madrid:

An English vessel imported lately into Gijon, a port in Asturias, a quantity of consecrated wafers, large and small, which were immediately offered. cheap for sale to all the curates of the diocese. The. Bishop of Oviedo having had some of these wafers!! analyzed, because they were manufactured by Protes-11 tant speculators, the chemists found them to contain a little wheat flour, some potato, chalk, and the whites of eggs, to give them consistence and glossiness. The presence of animal matter rendered these waters improper for the holy sacrifice. The prelates complained to the magistrate; but when an officer came to seize this new contraband article, the whole was

already sold. The bishop then sent a circular to all curates of his diocese, forbidding them, under pain of sacrilege, to use these wafers. He attributes this fraud less to the avarice of the perpetrators than to the hatred of Protestants against the mysteries of the Romish Church.

The Archives of Christianity, copying the above adds: "We wish the Universe would tell us why it is easier for priests to change into flesh and blood flour and water than the whites of eggs. Until he does, we may be permitted to regard the fact above related as a Romish speculation rather than a Protestant trick."

THE CHRISTIAN TREASURY.

ERRORS ON THE ASSURANCE OF FAITH.

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THERE are some that do not press on for assurance; they will rather argue against it thus: 1. "Assurance is not so necessary." Answer. "So necessary!" What do you mean? Is it not commanded? is it not promised? is it not purchased? is it not attained by the people of God? Sure, it is necessary to the vigour of grace, and to the being of joy and comfort: "Be of good comfort; thy sins are pardoned." 2. "Yea; but many do live, and die, and do well, without it."

Ans. Who told you so? The Scripture saith, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." (Rom. viii. 16.) “And we know and believe the love that God hath given us " (1 John iv. 16); with many, very many more texts to that purpose. A tempted believer may bear false witness against himself. Sure such a position as this, with mercy upon uncertainties, is not the way to comfort him. The sure way were to advise him to see his sins more, and humble his soul more for them, and to study Jesus Christ, and to come to him more, with the like; and God will return and speak peace: "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."

3. "But this joy is not so necessary." Ans. What do you mean again? "So necessary! why?-1. It is frequently commanded. Take one text: "Rejoice in the Lord," that is, Christ, “alway: and again I say, Rejoice." (Phil. iv. 4.) 2. It is frequently promised. "I will make you joyful in my house of prayer." (Isa. lvi. 7.) “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." (John xvi. 22.) 3. It is practised frequently. "We rejoice in Christ Jesus." (Phil. iii. 3.) 4. It is often prayed for. "The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing." (Rom. xv. 13.) 5. It is Christ's office "to give the oil of gladness for the spirit of heaviness." (Isa. lxi. 3.) 6. It is the special work of the blessed Spirit, who is therefore "the Comforter." Take the word in what notion you will, his work is either comforting or tending to comfort. 7. It is the privilege of the Gospel ordinances to feast the soul with marrow and fatness, and with wine well refined. That is, God hath not given us "the spirit of bondage to fear again," as formerly; But the Spirit of adoption, whereby," or No. 52.*

rather, "by whom," that is, "by whose assistance," "we cry, Abba, Father." (Rom. viii. 15.) Surely joy and comfort is necessary for the measures of grace. If you had a child infirm, sickly, hard-favoured; and a friend should say, "This strength, quickness, and comeliness is not so necessary; your child is alive, is it not?" you would think this were hardly suitable, much less comfortable.

4. "A Christian that doth come to and rely on Christ for righteousness, may have comfort." Ans. Yes; but then it must be by the way of a practical syllogism: "He that cometh to Christ shall never perish (John vi. 50-58); but I do so: therefore," &c. Here his coming, together with repentance and obedience, which are comitants, begets evidence, and from thence comfort.

5. "But many good people want this joy and comfort."

Ans. Confessed; but then it is our own fault: did we use the means, especially secret duties, meditation, prayer, which we neglect, it would be otherwise.

6. "But those that do these yet are in great darkness."

Ans. Yea, for some time. The Holy Spirit teacheth many lessons, excellent ones, in this school; chiefly the three-1. They learn what dismal creatures they must have been for ever without Jesus Christ. 2. They learn to give a guess, what were the unintelligible amazements and consternations that were upon the soul of Jesus Christ in their room. 3. The blessedness that comes by Jesus Christ. And when they have learned their lessons in this school out of the word by this ever-blessed tutor, God brings them out with silver, joy, and gold, and comfort.

Be not slothful in the business of faith. Remove away far from you a sluggish frame; stir up, blow up the coals, exercise thy faith, exert new acts of application of Jesus Christ to thee daily. We want comfort; and why? Jesus Christ is not in our serious thoughts all the day. We eat bread daily for life natural, and clothe ourselves daily to cover our nakedness before men: sure the soul hath as much need of food and raiment as the body. Jesus crucified is the only, the heavenly, food and raiment; stir up thine appetite, exert faith, put forth

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